AGSC 137
involves the application of procedures and techniques for collecting,
analyzing, and interpreting agricultural data. The course encompasses an
introduction to statistical methods using examples and applications to which
students can easily relate. The course also focuses on teaching students
basic statistical analysis using the MS Excel spreadsheet program and other
pertinent computer tools. Students enrolled in AGSC 137, which is part
of the laptop curriculum, will be introduced to these important concepts
through lectures and exercises that they may complete on their laptops.
Emphasis will be placed on providing the student with problem-solving skills
and the ability to interpret the results of basic agricultural statistical
analysis. Following a
brief introduction to statistics and statistical inference, students enrolled
in AGSC 137 are introduced to common measures of central tendency and
dispersion used in summarizing agricultural data followed by an introduction
to the main concepts of probability and probability distributions and their
potential applications in agricultural sciences. Additional topics to be
covered include random sampling, confidence intervals, hypothesis testing,
correlation analysis, and linear regression (simple and multiple).

Understand the types of problems in agriculture that can be analyzed statistically.

Utilize statistical concepts to interpret agricultural data.

Use MS Excel effectively to analyze data and solve problems.

OFFICE
HOURS:

The instructor
has the following designated office hours per week:

Mondays: 1:00 to
1:50 p.m.

Tuesdays: 11:00
to 11:50 a.m.

Wednesdays: 1:00 to 1:50 p.m.

Thursdays: 11:00 to 11:50 a.m.

Fridays: 1:00 to 1:50 p.m.

If
necessary, students are also encouraged to make appointments to see the
instructor at other times.

CONTACT
HOURS AND CLASS SCHEDULE:

AGSC 137 is a
three-credit hour course. It includes three contact hours per week for 15
weeks. One section of the course is offered during the 2018
Spring semester. The schedule of the offered section is as follows:

Any
student who feels s/he may need an accommodation based on the impact of
a disability should contact the Disability Services (DS) office
immediately to register for services and receive a Notification of
Disabilities form. Once you have this form, we will meet privately, to
discuss your specific needs. Although you may register for
services at any time, please attempt to make arrangements within the
first two weeks of the semester so all appropriate academic
accommodations can be set.

CLASS
POLICIES:

Attendance:
First and foremost, students must always plan to be in class on time.
Given the nature of the course, students are also required to attend all
classes. Attendance will be taken during each class session and appropriate
action will be taken when any given students has more than 3 unexcused
absences during the semester. A student with a few or no class absences
during the semester will receive favorable considerations during the grading
process when s/he is close to receiving the next higher letter grade. No make-up examination will be given without a written
medical excuse, family emergency, or prior permission from the instructor.
Students are responsible for all materials covered in the class whether
assigned or presented orally during the lectures.

Student
Behavior:
As students in a technical program are preparing for a professional
career, all students are expected to conduct themselves as professionals (in
both manner and dress). Good behavior in the classroom is expected from all
students. Students who engage in unacceptable or disruptive behavior
will be asked to leave the class.

Eating,
drinking, or the consumption of any tobacco products is prohibited in
the classroom situation (lecture hall, classroom, laboratory, or field).
Doing so may result in the student's dismissal from that class period
and will count as an unexcused absence.

Cell phones
and pagers must be turned off during instruction time. Use during or
disruption of class by these devices will result in the student's
dismissal from that class period and an unexcused absence.
Laptop computers may not be used during the lecture.

Assignments:
This course will include twelve homework assignments of equal
weights. At the end of the semester, the assignment with the lowest
grade for each student will be dropped. Class assignments will account
for 20% of the final grade. Therefore, it is important that students
complete those assignments accurately, neatly, and on time. Assignments
received past the due date will be devalued 5% for each day that the item is
late. No class assignment of any student will be graded (for credit)
once the same assignment is corrected and returned to the class. A student
missing an assignment will receive a grade of zero on that assignment.

Examinations: There will be two class examinations and a
comprehensive final in AGSC 137. Class examinations will cover class
material, homework assignments, and assigned readings.

Honesty
Policy and Discipline (Due Process):
Honesty and integrity are major elements in professional behavior
and are expected of each student. Any assignment (including those in
electronic media) submitted by a student must be of the student's original
authorship. Representation of another's work as the student’s own shall
constitute plagiarism. Cheating, in any form, is an unacceptable behavior
within all college courses. Students having academic problems should consult
with their academic advisor or a college counselor. Instances of cheating
will be dealt with in accordance to Morrisville State College policy. Standards of academic
honesty and due process procedures for Morrisville State College are located
in the Rules, Regulations, and Expectations section of the Student Handbook.

Safety
Guidelines:
Certain class assignments may require the student to be absent from
the professor's immediate supervision. Whether the student is under
immediate supervision or not, safe conduct and safe use of equipment shall
be the ultimate rule. Failure to comply with prudent safety practice and/or
willful disregard for class participants and/or equipment may be cause for
immediate dismissal from that particular class session by the professor.
Subsequent similar activity may be cause for dismissal from the course by
the Dean.

Things to remember: The material covered in AGSC 137 will
require a consistent effort from each student (understanding earlier
lectures will be crucial to grasping concepts presented in subsequent
lectures). Each student should plan to spend at least two hours per
week for every lecture convened in class. Students are also urged to
spend the time in solving problems and completing the required homework
assignments on time (and independently). Solving additional problems
from the text and revisiting the problems solved in the class will be very
helpful. Completing assignments well before the due date will give the
student a chance to ask questions should he/she encounter problems.
Students also should remember to ask questions of the instructor when they
face difficulties, whether inside or outside the classroom. The
instructor has an open-door policy and welcomes the opportunity to visit
with students whenever needed.

GRADING/EVALUATION OF STUDENT:

Evaluation is a shared responsibility between the teacher and the student. The
purpose of the evaluation is to demonstrate how well the professor has taught
and the student has learned specific course materials, the principles, concepts,
and terms relevant to the covered topics. Evaluation is also intended to assess
the student's ability to utlize the acquired knowledge and how s/he can use this
knowledge in problem-solving.

The breakdown of grading in this course will be as follows:

Class Work Ethic and Participation ==> 5% of final grade

Homework Assignments ==> 20% of final grade

First Examination (during the second lecture of the 6th week) ==>
20% of final grade

Second Examination (during the two lectures of the 12th week) ==>
20% of final grade

Final Examination (comprehensive) ==> 35% of final grade

The
distribution of grades in this course will be based on the A-F College grading
scheme. The letter grades correspond to the following percentage scale: A
(90-100%), A- (87-89.9%), B+ (83-86.9%), B (80-82.9%), B- (77-79.9%), C+
(73-76.9%), C (70-72.9%), C- (67-69.9%), D+ (63-66.9%), D (60-62.9%), and F
(<60%).